There are several reasons why a woman may have a caesarean section. A planned section may be scheduled because of the position or health of the baby, the mother’s medical history or at her request if she has had a previous, traumatic vaginal birth. An emergency section usually occurs because complications have arisen during natural labour. A ceasarean section is a major operation that requires incisions through the abdomen and uterus and so the significant recovery period is well accepted by medical professionals and society in general. However, the emotional after effects of this type of birth remain less acknowledged and far less discussed. The silence and stigma surrounding mental health after a c-section can be detrimental to new mothers who’ve not only just been through major surgery, but now have a newborn baby to care for too. Here are just a few of the emotional issues that may arise following a c-section.

Shock

It’s extremely common for the body to go into shock immediately after the surgery is carried out. Many women report shaking from head to toe as medication from the epidural and affect the muscles. But further on into the recovery process many women experience delayed shock, especially when the c-section was carried out in emergency circumstances. They spend so long preparing for their labour, writing birth plans and building up expectations so when things don’t go to plan it can be a huge surprise. Using a debriefing service following a c-section can be a good way to come to terms with the experience and understand why it had to happen.

Guilt

A study carried out by Channel Mum found that one in five mothers said that opting for a ceasarean would mean that they’d ‘failed’ and with that sense of failure undoubtedly follows feelings of guilt. Outdated social views can lead to women believing that a drug-free, natural labour is the most honourable way to give birth. Some women even report that having a caesarean has made them to feel like less of a woman and less of a mother. Of course this is untrue and all that really matters in labour is that mother and baby both come through the process safely.

Post natal depression

Although all women who go through childbirth are at risk from postnatal depression, studies show that women who have an emergency caesarean are up to six times more likely to suffer from the condition. The longer recovery period and feelings of guilt, failure and lack of control over their own body are all thought to contribute to this, alongside the hormonal changes that all new mums face. It’ is important to speak to a health visitor or GP if you think you could be suffering from postnatal depression. Self help advice, medication and therapy can all help to alleviate the symptoms.

Trouble bonding

Some women report that they have struggled to bond with their babies following a caesarean section. There are several theories for this. Biologically, research indicates that they miss out on the release of the hormone oxytocin (otherwise known as the love hormone). Immediately after natural childbirth the release of this hormone is higher than ever and missing out it can impair the initial bonding process. In addition to this, skin to skin contact (vital for developing early closeness and bonding) is rarely possible straight after a c-section and in many cases the baby is taken away and checked over while the mother recovers. On a more practical level, the long recovery process can sometimes render a new mum unable to carry out day to day care of the child which can make her feel disengaged from her new baby.

Fear of future pregnancy

Sometimes all of these factors combined, along with the physical pain of a c-section, can make women so fearful of a repeat performance that they choose not to become pregnant again. Of course this can be a devastating choice for a woman who really wants another baby. After a c-section, the probability of a natural birth next time is good – research indicates 60-80% of women can potentially go on to have a vaginal birth after a ceasarean (VBAC). But there are risks and these, alongside the fear of another c-section, can be enough to put some women off for life. If you feel like this but still long to expand your family it is important to talk to your GP or debriefing service to familiarise yourself with all of the facts so that you can make an informed choice.

]]>https://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2016/03/04/the-emotional-after-effects-of-a-caesarean-section/feed/0gommonPlanning a “What is a midwife workshophttps://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2014/08/31/planning-a-what-is-a-midwife-workshop-2/
https://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2014/08/31/planning-a-what-is-a-midwife-workshop-2/#respondSun, 31 Aug 2014 17:20:36 +0000http://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2014/08/31/planning-a-what-is-a-midwife-workshop-2/]]>Planning a “What is a midwife workshop” on Sunday 28th September aimed at aspiring midwives … learn how to improve your application.]]>https://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2014/08/31/planning-a-what-is-a-midwife-workshop-2/feed/0gommonPlanning a “What is a midwife workshophttps://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2014/08/31/planning-a-what-is-a-midwife-workshop/
https://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2014/08/31/planning-a-what-is-a-midwife-workshop/#respondSun, 31 Aug 2014 17:20:03 +0000http://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2014/08/31/planning-a-what-is-a-midwife-workshop/]]>Planning a “What is a midwife workshop” on Sunday 28th September aimed at aspiring midwives … learn how to improve your application.]]>https://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2014/08/31/planning-a-what-is-a-midwife-workshop/feed/0gommonI’m planning another “What is a midwifhttps://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2014/04/06/im-planning-another-what-is-a-midwif-2/
https://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2014/04/06/im-planning-another-what-is-a-midwif-2/#respondSun, 06 Apr 2014 23:10:09 +0000http://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2014/04/06/im-planning-another-what-is-a-midwif-2/]]>I’m planning another “What is a midwife” day for those interested in training as a midwife. Saturday 26th April. Message me for more details.]]>https://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2014/04/06/im-planning-another-what-is-a-midwif-2/feed/0gommonI’m planning another “What is a midwifhttps://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2014/04/06/im-planning-another-what-is-a-midwif/
https://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2014/04/06/im-planning-another-what-is-a-midwif/#respondSun, 06 Apr 2014 23:09:17 +0000http://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2014/04/06/im-planning-another-what-is-a-midwif/]]>I’m planning another “What is a midwife” day for those interested in training as a midwife. Saturday 26th April. Message me for more details.]]>https://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2014/04/06/im-planning-another-what-is-a-midwif/feed/0gommonI will be hosting workshop for those wishttps://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2014/01/19/i-will-be-hosting-workshop-for-those-wis/
https://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2014/01/19/i-will-be-hosting-workshop-for-those-wis/#respondSun, 19 Jan 2014 13:18:44 +0000http://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2014/01/19/i-will-be-hosting-workshop-for-those-wis/]]>I will be hosting workshop for those wishing to train as a midwife on 22th Feb and 26th April – please message me for details.]]>https://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2014/01/19/i-will-be-hosting-workshop-for-those-wis/feed/0gommonI am planning to host an IM-UK Workshophttps://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2014/01/19/i-am-planning-to-host-an-im-uk-workshop/
https://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2014/01/19/i-am-planning-to-host-an-im-uk-workshop/#respondSun, 19 Jan 2014 13:15:12 +0000http://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2014/01/19/i-am-planning-to-host-an-im-uk-workshop/]]>I am planning to host an IM-UK Workshop for midwives wishing to go into independent practice on 25th Jan and 22nd March please message me for details.]]>https://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2014/01/19/i-am-planning-to-host-an-im-uk-workshop/feed/0gommon2013 in reviewhttps://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2013/12/31/2013-in-review/
https://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2013/12/31/2013-in-review/#respondTue, 31 Dec 2013 12:06:56 +0000http://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/?p=858]]>The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 8,200 times in 2013. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 3 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

]]>https://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2013/12/31/2013-in-review/feed/0gommonMidwifes 4 Mothers (M4M) New campaignhttps://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2013/06/10/midwifes-4-mothers-m4m-new-campaign/
https://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/2013/06/10/midwifes-4-mothers-m4m-new-campaign/#respondMon, 10 Jun 2013 10:36:10 +0000http://midwifevalerie.wordpress.com/?p=856]]>A new campaign has been launched with the aim that, every woman should have a midwife that they know and trust and:

• who can support her through her pregnancy, birth and beyond
• regardless of her circumstances
• or where her baby is to be born

Please do take a look at the website http://www.m4m.org.uk and follow up on the Action Plan as listed:http://www.m4m.org.uk/takeAction.php
Please take the following actions
• Read the Manifesto
• Sign up for our Newsletter
• Tell your friends and colleagues
• Post on Facebook and Twitter
• Pledge your support
• Check your organisation is supporting the manifesto
• Sign up your organisation
• Take part in our Deliver a Baby campaign
• Make a donation to support the campaign

It won’t take you long and together we can make a HUGE difference to maternity care in the UK – the Government is really listening to us!

“The condition of having a developing embryo or fetus in the body.”
“The process by which a human female carries a live offspring from conception until childbirth.”

Pregnancy is referred to as a gestation period – the time between conception and birth. Approximately 40 weeks (280 days). Measured from the first day of the last menstrual period. For women who use a procedure that allows them to know the exact date of conception (such as in-vitro fertilisation IVF, or artificial insemination) the gestation period is 38 weeks (266 days) from conception.

Pregnancy is divided into three stages – called trimesters, each lasting about 3 months.

An embryo is a multicellular diploid (has two sets of chromosomes) eukaryote (an organism whose cells contain complex structures enclosed within membranes) in its earliest stage of development; from the time of first cell division until birth. In humans, it is called an embryo until about eight weeks after fertilization (i.e. ten weeks after the last menstrual period or LMP), and from then it is instead called a fetus.
Embryo is the term used to describe the developing baby in the first 8 weeks and the term Fetus is the term used after 8 weeks until birth (when all the structure of the baby and systems of the body such as the digestive and nervous systems have developed).

Facts at 24 weeks
24 weeks is the legal cut off gestational age for a legal abortion (although abortions or terminations can be carried out later in the pregnancy on medical grounds).

COMPLICATIONS OF PREMATURE BIRTH
Babies born after 34 weeks have a low risk of problems although they are sometime slower to feed.
A baby born before 33 weeks will have more serious problems such as immature lungs.
Very premature babies (born under 28 weeks) need to be delivered in a hospital with a neonatal intensive care unit.
Doctors have been able to improve dramatically the survival hopes for babies born as early as 22 or 23 weeks.
However, very premature babies face a huge battle at the start of life. They are at risk of serious conditions including:
* Hypothermia, due to lower levels of fat
* Low blood glucose, which can lead to brain damage
* Respiratory distress syndrome – which can cause blindness
* Brain haemorrhage
Long-term they may have cerebral palsy and have sight and hearing problems.
They are also more likely to have motor impairments and co-ordination and concentration problems.

Birth
Occurs at around 38 weeks after fertilization, so 40 weeks pregnant. Term is considered to be 37 – 42 weeks gestation. The fetus has developed enough to survive easily outside its mother’s body. Babies are usually born head first but occasionally are born breech.